Thomas Anthony Beyer

8/9/1934 - 11/2/2022

Thomas Anthony Beyer- beloved husband, father of four, grandfather of seven, and friend to many- passed away at the age of 88 on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 in Surprise, AZ with his wife, Carol Elizabeth Crotty Beyer, at his side. Tom & Carol were life-long friends who would have been married for 65 years on November 23rd.

Born in Salamanca, NY, he was the son of Anthony Beyer and Diana Degaine Beyer. He graduated from California Polytechnic State University and received a MS in Engineering from California State University, Fullerton. Work life started early for Tom, from paper routes at a young age to becoming an excellent draftsman and then later serving in the US Marines. His career developed into an extensive tenure with the Department of Defense, where he served as an engineer, dedicating much of his life to naval ship design and concluding with his collaborative work with NATO.

Tom was a gifted woodworker, designing and crafting furniture and renovating not only his own homes, but also the homes of family and friends. He traveled the world at every opportunity, read books of all genres, and tackled puzzles of all shapes and sizes. Tom embraced the adventures of life in all its forms, to include many visits with cherished family from VA, MI, NV, AZ, NC, MA, KY and CA.

After his wife Carol, Tom’s greatest loves were his four children and their spouses: Thomas (Michèle) Beyer, Elizabeth (James) Degnan, Cheryl (Robert) Leffler, and Karen (Mark) Kravchak.

He had seven grandchildren whom he affectionately referred to as the 7 Dwarfs: James, Diana, Jackson, Davis, Camille, McKinsey, and Tatum

Tom was preceded in death by Micheal Crotty (best friend & brother-in-law), Jean Kalata (sister), Margarite Beyer (sister), Gene Kalata (nephew), Richard Kalata (nephew), and Jerome Lang (nephew).

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1pm on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at Surprise Funeral Care at 16063 W. Bell Road in Surprise, AZ. Family and friends will be received following the service at a location to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Student Veterans of America (SVA), the Alzheimer’s Association, or a favorite charity.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.surprisefuneralcare.com for the Beyer family.